Iran protests: at least 10 more deaths

Iran's leading presidential challenger prepared to back a new round of protests as state media reported at least 10 more people have died in clashes between opposition supporters and the security forces.

Protests continued at the weekend and 10 people were killed but the opposition did not not hold a major rallyPhoto: REUTERS

By Our Foreign Staff and Agencies in Tehran

11:30AM BST 21 Jun 2009

State media reported the death toll reached double figures on Saturday, when supporters of the opposition candidates including Mir-Hossein Mousavi took to the streets and were attacked by the religious police known as the Basiji. At least 100 have been injured. Mr Mousavi has been involved in preparations for another mass rally on Sunday.

State television described the opposition supporters as "terrorists" and claimed they were armed with firearms and explosives during clashes in the central Tehran neighbourhoods of Enghelab and Azadi, where the "rioters" threw stones at the security forces and were said to have set two petrol stations on fire and attacked a military post.

"Unfortunately, in the riots that ended up with clashes, 10 people were killed and more than 100 people were wounded," it said.

Other reports said that 13 people died.

The station also reported that people had died when a mosque was set on fire on Saturday in what was initially described as a suicice bombing, but said later that there were no fatalities.

Amnesty International said on Friday that at least 15 people were killed last week in the post-election violence, although other estimates oput the figure at twice that nationwide.

Iran's deputy police chief, Ahmad Reza Radan, blamed the exiled opposition group the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI) of being behind Saturday's violence, the television said. Several members of the group with links to Britain were said to have been arrested.

The speaker of Iran's parliament has called for ties with Britain, France and Germany to be reconsidered in view of their "shameful" statements on a disputed presidential election, state radio said on Sunday.

Speaker Ali Larijani made the comment in a speech to parliament.

"He called the stances of the United States, Britain, Germany and France towards Iran's presidential election shameful and called on parliament's foreign and security policy commission to put the reconsideration of ties with the three European countries on its agenda,"

Tehran has been rocked by violent protests since the incumbent, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was declared the winner of the June 12 vote, which the opposition claims was rigged.

On Sunday all eye were on Mr Mousavi and whether he would back a mass protest in Tehran in defiance of the Supreme Leader.